Cad Bane - The Concept of Trust

Stealing it back: Part IV / VI

"Mr. Bane!" Todo's voice was urgent, missing its normally polite tone.

"What now?"

"...Their systems are getting back online. The disturbance transmissions have ...stopped."

Both Bane and Nevar glanced at each other, knowing what that probably meant. Todo continued with a nervous tone;

"...But... I got it ...done. Now. ...I have jammed their weapons, comms and security systems."

For a moment Bane just stared at Todo, who was taking his distance, obviously not sure if Bane would shoot him to pieces for not executing the deed just a bit faster. The tension in the air was hanging above them so thick you could have cut it with a knife. Bane was frozen before Nevar broke the silence and hailed the comm line.

"Nexus, do you copy?" The line stayed silent.

"What the hell was that?" Bane's voice was strained, hissing, and the bounty hunter's demeanor looked like he was just an inch away from losing it.

"It was Her hailing code back in the days. ...You should know She doesn't like to be called by Her real name, never has."

"Of course I karking know that!" Bane's voice rose to a loud, bellowing growl, and for a moment the shootout between the merc and the hunter seemed unavoidable, but as guns were aimed, the inventory droid's metallic voice intercepted them.

"The shipment you requested is here." The droid pointed at five moderate size crates that were being brought on a transporter.

"That's all?" Bane and Nevar were both distracted for a second.

"Yes, that is the whole shipment. ...Is there anything else you request?"

"No." Bane shot a bolt unceremoniously through the droid's memory core, causing the unfortunate service robot to drop on the ground with a dull clank.

At the same moment the cargo bay's entrance doors opened with a hiss. Several storm troopers and three sentry droids entered the area, but as soon as they stepped in, the explosion quaked the ship, ripping one droid and several troopers to bits.

"We have intruders!" The storm trooper's shout died in his throat, as Nevar's heavy blaster rifle's bolt hit the guard through the smoke and fire.

"Load the shipment!" Bane shouted to Todo, turning his attention to troopers and droids that were flooding in.

Bane and Nevar just nodded at each other, the turn of events adjourning their strife. They had gone through this possibility when planning the heist, and both knew what to do. Taking cover, Nevar concentrated on getting the attackers attention, dropping troopers with precise fire. On the contrary the troopers didn't seem to have the best accuracy, except the droids that posed the greatest threat, pounding the cover Nevar was using with heavy blaster fire. Bane swiftly moved himself to a favourable position, and threw a droid popper between the sentry droids, incapacitating both of them, but then turning towards the Justifier while Nevar was still dealing with the last troopers, and instead of helping the man to finish them off turned his attention to Todo.

"Is the shipment secured?"

"Yes, Mr. Bane." The droid's voice was still nervous.

"We are leaving." Bane's voice was blunt, and he entered the Justifier, leaving Nevar behind in his position. The fight was momentarily over before it had barely started, but still Nevar saw the ramp closing in front of his eyes, and the Justifier starting the take-off.

Nevar cursed loudly when he understood that the Duros was going to leave him there, and rushed to the manual panel, turning the control switch, and overriding Todo's remote order to open the bay doors. He watched, as the Justifier hovered ineffectually there for a moment or two, finally landing back, and opening the ramp. Nevar released the switch and ran into the ship, charging straight into the cockpit, shouting on his way.